How Long Does It Take to Play 9 Holes of Golf? (What You Need to Know)

​What’s the perfect pace of play in golf? I mean how long does it take to play 9 holes of golf? Irrespective of your golfing skills and experience. In fact, the question should be this. How long it is supposed to take to complete a round of 9-hole golf?

For 18 holes, golfers, on average, take around 4 hours. That means half the time for 9 holes. Those who don’t have the luxury of time often opt for a 9-hole game.

It’s a brilliant idea if you ask me. To enjoy the game with the same kind of commitment. As a matter of fact, I look forward to playing 9 holes more than my full rounds at the golf course. No doubt, the challenge is a unique one. Even so, the game is more entertaining.

Now let’s get down to the topic at hand…

How Long Does It Take to Play 9 Holes of Golf?

If you’re playing in a group of 4 players, then the time taken is 2 hours, 15 minutes. That is playing 9 holes with a golf cart. Needless to say, the time reduces if you decide to play alone. Or even in the case of just 2 players.

No matter how many golfers, each group should not take more than 15 minutes per hole. That’s if you wish to keep the pace of the game at a decent level.

But let me make one thing very clear. Irrespective of your golfing skills and experience. Every hole in golf takes a minimum of 15 minutes to play. In fact, this is the standard time rate at the majority of golf courses.

Golf courses usually set 8-12 minutes for playing one hole. This includes your pre-shots, approach shots, tee shots, time on the green, etc. Once you add all these figures by the end of your round. The time taken is around 1.5-2.5 hours for playing 9 holes.

Factors That Determine Your Pace of Play

It goes without saying that there are many factors that decide or influence your time taken on the course. Longer time, more distance, etc. are all a part of the picture due to several reasons. Such as the following…

Also, beginners, no doubt, take a longer time for completing a single round of golf. In comparison to professional or experienced players at least. This means your pace of play is also influenced by the golfer playing before you.

1. Size of the Golf Course

Even a 9-hole game varies when it comes to golf course size. On a par-3 course, a single round can take anywhere between 1 and 1.5 hours. And sometimes even longer. As for the standard par-37 and par-34 golf courses, these take somewhere between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours.

Then comes the usual golf course spanning 5,500 yards to 6,000 yards. Most golfers here complete the round in 2 hours. But if the course is 7,000 yards, then over 2.5 hours are required.

2. Walking vs. Golf Cart

It’s only the par-3 types of golf courses that don’t provide cart services. In that case, those that have the option move quickly. They also find their golf balls much faster.

So how long does it take to play 9 holes of golf in a cart? Around 2.5 hours for a single round. And on foot, it takes 2.75 hours.

3. Golfing Skills

Obviously, beginners take a longer time to complete 9 holes than professionals. Even average-level professional golfers take a shorter amount of time. Because they rarely lose their golf balls. And, more often than not, throw many balls into the fairway and greens. The outcome of this is less time wasted on the course. Also, fewer total shots, thus a faster pace.

In simple words, average players complete a 9-hole round in less than 1.5 hours. But if your skill level is low i.e. handicap level is high. Then you can take around anywhere between 2 hours and 2.5 hours.

4. Golf Course Traffic

It’s not just the form of transportation that matters. Your speed also depends on the traffic on the golf course. If it’s heavy, then be ready to spend nearly 3 hours for completing a single game.

You wait for at least 5 to 10 minutes for every hole. That means adding around 45 minutes to 50 minutes extra to your round of golf.

5. Maintenance Time

How long does it take to play 9 holes of golf? The answer depends on your time management. If your golf course decides your pace. Then you should take around 2.25 hours for completing the round. And 4.5 hours for an 18-hole golf game.

So, at such times, the best you can do is be ready. As long as you’re ready to take your shot, you have nothing to worry about. Always allow the golfer who’s ready to shoot first. It brings into the picture a lot of flexibility, no doubt.

Commonly Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take to Play 9 Holes of Golf for 2 Players?

If the golf course is empty, then a single golfer or 2 experienced golfers can complete an 18-hole game in only 2 hours. As for 9 holes, 2 players take just 75 minutes. Needless to say, this depends on walking or riding. Along with the age of the golfers.

On the other hand, on a busy course, the time taken can go up to 3 hours. For a 9-hole round of golf with 2 players.

How Long Does It Take to Walk 9 Holes?

Each golf hole should take a minimum of 15 minutes. This includes the walking time between your shots and tees. However, a huge variation from one hole to the next does indeed exist. Some experts, for example, calculate par-3s at 9 minutes, par-4s at 12 minutes, and par-5s at 18 minutes.

Conclusion

Do you now think that golf is a sport for everyone? To be honest, I don’t think so. Because each round of golf, be it 9-hole or 18-hole, demands patience and concentration. Golf rounds sometimes take many hours to complete. On top of that, there are many external factors too that have a direct impact on your time taken on the course.

But there’s simply no denying that now playing 9-hole golf has become an everyday occurrence. Particularly because now more and more golfers are wanting to complete the round quickly. Yet without compromising the joy of playing golf.

Related Articles

• How Long Does A Game of Golf Take
• What Is A Golf Mulligan?
• What is An Executive Golf Course?
• What Is the Average Golf Swing Speed by Age?
• What Is the Golf Club Distance Calculator?